The
National Day of Prayer tradition predates the founding of the United States of America, evidenced by the Continental Congress' proclamation in 1775 setting aside a day of prayer. In 1952, Congress established an annual day of prayer and, in 1988, that law was amended, designating the National Day of Prayer as the
first Thursday in May.
This year is the 70th anniversary, and the featured bible verse is
2 Corinthians 3:17:
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."